Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Chandler Hyacinth, has challenged principals in Dominica to discover and capitalize on their strengths to bring success to schools on the island.
She was speaking at the annual Principal’s Meeting held at the Fort Young Hotel on Friday.
“First I want to challenge you this morning; find your strength,” she said. “Discover what is the strength that you have as administrators, and as we begin the new school year we want to challenge you as principals to capitalize on that strength and success in our schools.”
According to Hyacinth all the efforts, work and endeavors should revolve around the achievement of each student’s potential academically, socially and emotionally.
“We must have the highest expectation for each young person in our care,” she stated. “And as such, it is our responsibility to do our utmost to ensure that is exactly what each of them realizes.”
She noted that the Ministry of Education is equipping teachers/administrators with a range of strategies that can be effective in enhancing outcomes, “helping our students in our classrooms to be successful learners.”
Hyacinth appealed to administrators to develop the skills in and among staff to build schools in Dominica, especially to ensure quality performance.
“Building our staff is a process,” she remarked. “This may require training, coaching and where appropriate mentoring.”
She advised that in the quest for improved performance, “we have to build teams for improvement,” and pointed out that in seeking to build quality for effectiveness, principals must be mindful of how they communicate with each other, “how we communicate with our staff, how we communicate with the young people in our care.”
“Sadly some of us by the way we lead, by the way we are communicating, we are building dysfunctional teams,” Hyacinth added.
The Permanent Secretary also urged principals/administrators to build supportive ecosystems; lift each other up; build safe, caring environments and have high expectations for success and encouraged them to use technology as a teaching tool to effect change.
“We are the drivers for change and success in our schools,” Hyacinth declared.
Chief Education Officer, Melena Fontaine, gave the assurance that all the structures will be put in place to ensure that the plans of the Ministry of Education to “realize our vision of each child succeeds,” are successfully implemented.
Sadly some of us by the way we lead, by the way we are communicating, we are building dysfunctional teams,” Hyacinth added. This is indeed the best statement I have heard from an MOE Official. Mrs. Hyacinth I want to shake your big toe. Let me tell you just check the south where this is manifested on a daily basis.
Sadly some of us by the way we lead, by the way we are communicating, we are building dysfunctional teams,” Hyacinth added. This is indeed the best statement I have heard from an MOE Official. Mrs. Hyacinth I want to shake your big toe. Let me tell you just check the south where this is manifested on a daily basis.